Glamour in the Air – What Does it Take to Become an Air Steward/Stewardess?

On average, air stewards and stewardesses stay in their chosen career for longer than workers from any other sector. This is a popular profession as flight attendants get to travel all over the world, meet and look after celebrities and get, on average, six months off a year. However, it must not be forgotten that stewarding is a very demanding job and can be stressful as well as physically demanding, especially when you’re travelling thousands of miles a day, whilst having to look after the comfort and safety of hundreds of passengers.

The rise of budget airlines and low cost comparison sites such as Cheapflights aim to offer the cheapest service possible to customers, whilst maintaining a high quality service to keep passengers coming back for more. For these reasons, arduous training processes have been put in place to ensure airline staff meet the highest industry standards.

Here we look at the key qualities airlines are looking for in their flight attendants, and you can decide for yourself if you have what it takes.

Professionalism

This is a customer-facing role, and professionalism is key as stewards and stewardesses are on view most of the time (and can be heard when not). Remaining professional for the entirety of a long haul flight can be difficult, but is a must.

Safety consciousness

While flying may be statistically safer than driving a car, a lot can go wrong at 30,000 feet. Airlines personnel must be safety conscious at all times, and able to spot something that might turn into an issue before it does. Care of the passengers is paramount, and you have to be able to react in the right way in a frightening situation such as an evacuation or emergency landing.

Adaptability

Those who need stability and a constant routine should think carefully about pursuing a career as a flight attendant. Routines are often changed at the last minute, and junior members of staff have to fill in for more senior members at a moment’s notice. Flight schedules are often changed, and layovers are extended or cut short as demand requires, so those working for airlines have to be flexible and adaptable in all situations.

High standards in customer service

Flight attendants have to deliver the highest levels of customer service at all times, and often in the face of adversity. Sometimes people become distressed on flights, and this can make them aggressive, so the ability to deal with people in all different kinds of situations is a key requirement.

Energy

High energy levels are vital when working as cabin crew – this is a very physical job, and employees are on their feet most of the time, either looking after passengers during a long haul flight, or dealing with the quick turnaround of short haul flights.

So, the next time you fly, spare a thought for the cabin crew. It might not be their first, or last, flight of the day, and if you think travelling on a long haul flight is hard work, imagine for a moment what it’s like to have to work through one.